Transcript Andrews_SITC_climatechange

Local Response to Climate Change:
Swinomish Case Study
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
Storm surge, February 2006
Chilberg Ave.
Swinomish Climate Change Initiative
Focus is local impacts, adaptation
Two-year, $400,000 project
80% federal funding, 20% Tribal
First year: Impact assessment, publish
technical report (Oct. 2009)
Second year: Develop strategy options,
publish Action Plan (Sept. 2010)
Impact Assessment Technical Report
Review of climate data
Broad impact analysis
Many disciplines/sectors
Risk zone mapping
Inventory of at-risk assets
Vulnerability assessment
Risk analysis
Basis for Action Plan
Climate Change Impacts
Sea Level Rise risk of inundation and storm
surge homes, infrastructure and shoreline
resources.
Wildfire Risk to homes especially in forest urban
fringe.
Health risks from heat events and increases in
respiratory ailments.
Risks to water supplies and waste water
Treatment facilities.
Inundation
Risk Zones –
Sea Level Rise
& Tidal Surge
Inundation Risk Zones – detail
Sea level rise scenarios, low-lying areas
New High Tide
(accelerated)
MHHW
New High Tide
(conservative)
Sea Level Rise
(accelerated)
MLLW
Sea Level Rise
(conservative)
Potential sea level rise impacts –
built environment
~1,100 low-lying acres at risk
180 structures, over $100 million value
Access/transportation links at risk
Economic development land at risk
Impaired marine/port facilities
Erosion, flood damage from storm surges
Threats to Shoreline and
Near Shore Habitat
– Loss of shoreline/shellfish habitat
– Stressed fish / shellfish populations
– Permanent species relocation/migration
– Threats from invasive species
– Loss of forage fish spawning beaches
– Loss of eel grass beds
– Hardened shorelines with resulting
impacts.
Counter-Productive Response
To protect at risk homes, roads and pipelines –
first response may be to build bulkheads to hold
back the sea.
This will block any upward migration of shoreline
habitats.
Eventually squeezing out shorelines/beaches as
permanent inundation meets vertical walls.
Bulkhead
Allow for Habitat Migration
To retain tideland and shoreline habitats
relocate homes and infrastructure away from
shoreline and not harden banks.
Id critical areas to retreat and allow / encourage
shoreline habitat migration and adaptation.
Determine where and when dike setback or
removal should be done.
Plan long-term in actions taken now.
Tribal Code Amendments to
Address SLR
Drafted amendments for adaptation
response. Undergoing review prior to
Submission to Tribal Legislative process.
Shorelines and Sensitive Areas
Building and Zoning Codes
Key issues:
– Reduce future building in SLR Risk Zones
– Provide for Shoreline Migration in key areas
- Prevent hardening of shorelines
- Address shifts in shoreline ownership
Future Swinomish Projects on SLR
Develop Strategies for Specific Shorelines
Identify where to protect and where to retreat
- Relocate infrastructure
- Acquire private lands and homes
- Remove shoreline protection structures.
Study of Dikes and Ag Lands to determine
- Where to raise lands for economic development
- To remove or setback dikes
- How long will agriculture be feasible and when to
convert to estuarine wetlands or other uses.
Mainstreaming Adaptation
Institutionalize across disciplines, sectors
“No regrets” actions – at least
Political barriers and constraints
Partnerships: Shared interests / burdens
Funding: options and sources
Incorporate into on-going planning
(Comp, transportation, emergency
response, natural resources, facilities plans)
Sources
Swinomish Climate Change Initiative: Impact Assessment
Technical Report. October 2009. Swinomish Indian Tribal
Community.
Swinomish Climate Change Initiative: Adaptation Plan.
September 2010. Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.
Adaptation Tool Kit: Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Land Use. October
2011. Georgetown Climate Center.
Rolling Easements: Options for Ensuring that Wetlands and Beaches
Have Room to Migrate Inland as Sea Level Rises. [Draft 2012].
James Titus, US EPA.